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Infections Complicating Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiac Devices

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Healthcare-Associated Infections in Children

Abstract

Innovations in surgical techniques and medical technology have allowed for the improved survival and quality of life of children with complex congenital heart disease as well as those with arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies. With increased interventions to aid these children comes the potential for risk of complex infections associated with surgery and implantation of devices and hardware. The management of such infections is often challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach including infectious diseases specialists, cardiologists, and surgeons. This chapter briefly reviews surgical site infections, including mediastinitis, in children undergoing cardiothoracic surgery as well as infections complicating cardiac implantable electronic devices and ventricular assist devices.

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Correspondence to Jesus G. Vallejo .

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Vallejo, J.G., McNeil, J.C., Campbell, J.R. (2019). Infections Complicating Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiac Devices. In: McNeil, J., Campbell, J., Crews, J. (eds) Healthcare-Associated Infections in Children. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98122-2_11

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